Kitchen Herb Garden

A kitchen herb garden provides fresh flavor just steps from the door. Most culinary herbs are beginner-friendly and reward frequent harvesting with fuller growth.

What to grow in a Kitchen Herb Garden

How to design it

Choose a sunny location with loose, well-drained soil, using a raised bed or containers if drainage is poor. Place taller rosemary and dill toward the back, medium herbs in the middle, and low thyme and chives near the front. Keep mint in a separate container because it spreads aggressively.

Care through the season

Water newly planted herbs consistently, then let the soil dry slightly between waterings for Mediterranean herbs such as thyme, oregano, sage, and rosemary. Mix in compost at planting, but avoid heavy fertilizer, which can weaken flavor and cause floppy growth. Sow cilantro and dill every few weeks in cool weather for continued harvests.

Tips

Cut herbs often, but never remove more than about one-third of a plant at once. Harvest basil before it flowers and parsley from the outer stems first. Bring tender basil indoors or replant it after frost in cool-winter areas.

General planning ideas for US home gardens; adjust plant choices to your climate, space, and local frost dates. Page updated Aug 4, 2026.